The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-30

to know her private character are right
one of the most Infamous actresses
of the day. The play was one had
never seen before. 1t was one which
will never do me any good to see again.
1t was Camille" The actress who es-
sayed the leading female role was,
perhaps, as great an exponent of the
character as the world has ever seen
Bernhardt. Her playing was mar
velous piece of work. Itisto be doubted
if there is woman in the world to-day
whose power as an actress in emotional
characters is as great as hers. Speak
ing in a tongue that was foreign to
nearly all, but slightly Ineligible to
many, and unmistakable jargon to most
of the audience, she yet held them to
herself centered all interest upon her
self; so artfully attracted and so Sc
curely held the attention that it was
mental effort even if one was so inclin-
ed, to throw off this subtle influence.
And what was the story she told that so
held one, what was the central idea in
it all =? Read Camille ifyou have never
seen it, and you will get the answer.
She told the story of q wanton. She
made Of fallen woma1a person whose
sorrows had been deepawhose sins had
been many, but whoseoppressors and
deriders had also bean many. She
passed with rare skill lightly over such
passages as told of guilt and shame, or,
if she dwelt upon them. it was to make
them thrill with marvelously simulated
sadness, pathos, or remorse, or with
longing fer the pure days of a virtuous
future.
But what was the RESULT sought for
in the heart-not tho head of every
auditor 1t was to make them feel
that Camille wasn't sd very bad after
all. Or, if she had been bad she was so
through untoward circumstances, and
would henceforth be aspure as an angel
if she only had a chance. If one was
at all inclined to be influenced by such
a wonderfully intense piece of acting,
the first process of mind would be per-
haps regret that sin had been commit
ted the second, a peculiar and indefin-
able sympathy for the &nner, the next
partial or, mayhap, a cNmplete condone-
ment, under the circumstances" of
the fault. 1 shall nok attempt to say
whether or not it is right for woman
with a doubtful reputation, but with
signal talents to play psrts which cause
the listener to form higHideals of purity,
to set up higher andsnobler order Of
womanhood. That maybe left, as must
that other perplexing ~ stion8t to somel
the relative punishment of sins of
men and sins of women by society-to
the individual. But as to the playing
of this play by this actress or by any
actress, there can be but one thing said.
Its influence is wholly evil. This play
and every other play like it upon the
stage of to-day-should be publicly
burned at the instance of an outraged
moral sentiment, and its only redeem
ing feature, its ashes, scattered to the
four winds of heaven. 1t would be to
the everlasting honor of the men who
manage the great theaters of the world,
if they would unitedly resolve to drive
from their houses every such play and
never let them be seen or heard again.
The dramatist too, and what power
he Wields should be communicated
from the favor of reputable people the
world over, who lends his genius to this
debasing end. Sarah Bernhardt is soon
to leave these shores. May she never
again bring back to this land La Dame
a1lr CameliaS If the stage of the future
is to sink deeper and deeper into the
morbid filth of such plays if the time
is not coming when the noble and ele-
waiting dramas shall rule supreme if
there ever must be growing and
spreading influence of corrupt and
cOrrupting plays-then in the name of
all pure and holy things, ring down the
curtain behind every footlight in the
world and never let it rise again unless
the time shall come when the drama
shall be played to the betterment of
man.
St. Paul, Minn.